Poker: Maintaining a Friendly Atmosphere

Sitting down around a poker table with family and friends can be an enjoyable and memorable  experience.  A gathering of folks to play poker or Texas Hold ‘Em may be a planned event or an impromptu get together.  As often happens, someone suggests getting out the folding poker table top for some spontaneous kick back action.  

But, it’s important that everyone understands what the ground rules are up front so no one walks away after the game feeling upset over the outcome.  Make sure that all the players understand and agree on such things as the dealer’s choice, table ante, the raise limit, and try to set a timeframe for how long the game will last.  Determine the poker chip values.  Perhaps even establishing how the final hand will be played (ie: All In and the Amount of Chips). 

If possible, start your game with a fresh deck of playing cards.  Shuffle the deck and deal a card face-up around the table to each player to determine who deals (High Card usually has honors).  Insure that every player antes up the correct amount of chips.  And let the games begin!

Make sure that everyone at the table understands how a dealer’s choice hand is played.  If someone isn’t familiar or comfortable with the selected game try dealing a sample hand without any ante or bidding to let them get the feel of it.  If the player still isn’t sure he or she can choose to pass or “deal me out”.

Some other rules that you can follow to insure the game stays within relaxed and fun limitations:

·         Keep the conversation friendly and light.  Don’t talk politics, and nobody likes a know-it-all.

·         Keep the game of choice simple.  Nobody likes complicated IF, AND, or ELSE instructions.

·         If food and drinks are available take breaks to let the players get up from the table.  Keep food away from that nice poker table, and drinks in their spot.

·         If someone over indulges in the beverage department make sure you get their car keys and they get a ride home.  You don’t want them to be a statistic as a result of your friendly poker game.

·         Recognize if and when the game may start to turn “testy” or hostile:  If a player is getting irritable about the luck of the cards or their losses, it’s time to break it up and quit:  You don’t want to sacrifice family or friendships over a card game!  

As with any card game the outcome always produces some winners and not-so-winners.  But, you want to maintain a friendly relaxed atmosphere so that those who aren’t so lucky don’t feel like “losers”.  After all, we’re all winners for being in that fraternity of family and friends!

From my site to yours – ENJOY!